Muslim Solidarity or Political Ambition? ? Pakistan?s Strategic Maneuvers in the OIC

The 51st session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) is scheduled to take place in Istanbul on June 21-22, 2025, under the chairmanship of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

In preparation for this high-level gathering, a Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) was held in Jeddah on April 27-29, chaired by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz. During the meeting, senior representatives from the 57 OIC member states deliberated on draft resolutions addressing a range of political, economic, and social concerns, as well as broader policy frameworks for the organisation. The approved resolutions from this meeting will be presented at the Council session in June.

However, as the diplomatic engagements unfold, certain member states?most notably Pakistan?appear to be strategically leveraging the platform to advance their geopolitical interests rather than focusing solely on the broader concerns of the Muslim world. Islamabad has been particularly active in pushing specific procedural changes, positioning itself to shape discussions that align with its regional priorities. This approach has led to concerns that some nations are prioritizing national agendas over the collective Islamic cause that the OIC is meant to champion.

Pakistan?s role within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has often been scrutinized, with some observers suggesting that its engagement is driven more by national strategic interests than purely Islamic concerns. While positioning itself as a champion of Muslim unity, its diplomatic maneuvering within the OIC has proven to be pragmatic rather than ideological.

For instance, Pakistan?s engagement with the OIC regarding Afghanistan has led to perceptions that it is exerting undue influence to shape resolutions in a way that aligns with its strategic interests.

Pakistan has reportedly been pressing Turkish OIC authorities to allow Islamabad a greater role in shaping the content of draft resolutions concerning Afghanistan. This effort appears to be part of Pakistan?s broader strategy to isolate Afghanistan on the international stage by spotlighting its perceived governance failures.

Pakistan?s bilateral tensions with Afghanistan, especially concerning border security and the presence of militant groups, further complicate its role in OIC discussions.Islamabad seeks to underscore Afghanistan?s shortcomings, particularly its restrictions on girls? education, its economic mismanagement, and its inability to curb terrorist elements operating within its territory.

Islamabad?s active role in drafting resolutions is an attempt to control the discourse on Afghanistan within the OIC, ensuring that resolutions do not contradict its regional policies. However, Pakistan maintains that its involvement is aimed at promoting stability and humanitarian support for Afghanistan.

Its pan-Islamist rhetoric has been a key feature of its foreign policy, but its engagement with the OIC has also been strategic, ensuring that resolutions align with its regional security concerns. Pakistan has actively used the OIC platform to advocate for issues that align with its foreign policy priorities, such as Kashmir, Afghanistan, and Islamophobia.

Pakistan leverages its influence within the OIC to shape resolutions in ways that serve its geopolitical objectives rather than a broader Islamic agenda. Its engagement with the OIC has also been strategic, particularly when it comes to sensitive geopolitical issues like the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China.

Because of its deep economic and strategic ties with China?especially through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)?it has been reluctant to raise concerns about China?s treatment of Uyghur Muslims within the OIC. This has led to accusations that Pakistan is prioritizing its relationship with China over its commitment to Muslim solidarity.

Reports indicates that on April 25, the Pakistani Embassy in Ankara issued a d?marche, urging T?rkiye to exclude any reference to Uyghurs, particularly the recent extradition of Uyghurs from Thailand, from discussions at the Senior Officials Meeting and the upcoming OIC Council of Foreign Ministers session. This request mirrored an earlier d?marche from the Chinese Embassy in Ankara, which had similarly pressed the Turkish government to avoid raising the Uyghur issue.

Previously, the Pakistani Permanent Representative to the OIC in Jeddah met with Turkish OIC officials, reiterating Pakistan?s request while underscoring the intense diplomatic pressure exerted by China on T?rkiye to steer clear of any discussion that might scrutinize Beijing?s policies towards Uyghur Muslims.

Despite T?rkiye?s initial resistance to these demands, concerns persist that economic and strategic considerations, particularly trade relations with China, might ultimately compel Ankara to soften its stance on the matter.

Pakistan has historically opposed any formal engagement between India and the OIC, including India?s participation in OIC meetings. In 2019, Pakistan boycotted an OIC meeting after India was invited as a guest of honor, highlighting tensions within the organization.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the 51st Session of the OIC-CFM, scheduled to take place in Istanbul on June 21-22, 2025. In advance of this, Turkish Deputy Minister Nuh Yilmaz chaired the OIC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in Jeddah on April 27, where he outlined T?rkiye?s priorities for the upcoming ministerial session.

But Pakistan has been actively pressing Turkish authorities to introduce new regulations in the draft resolutions of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (OIC-CFM) regarding the appointment of Special Envoys from non-OIC member states.

Under the current framework, the OIC Secretary General holds full discretion to appoint Special Envoys from non-OIC nations without consulting or seeking prior approval from other member states. Pakistan is concerned that India could exploit this flexibility by engaging select OIC members to influence the Secretary General?potentially leading to the appointment of an Indian Special Envoy. Islamabad fears that such a development could shift the strategic dynamics within the OIC and undermine Pakistan?s long-standing positions on key geopolitical issues.

To mitigate this risk, Pakistan has been advocating for a procedural change, proposing that the authority to appoint Special Envoys be removed from the sole discretion of the Secretary General and instead entrusted to a designated body or group of OIC member states.

There are reports suggesting that Pakistan may attempt to include the recent Pahalgam attack in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) draft resolutions, framing it as a false flag operation orchestrated by India to divert global attention. These hypocritical positions have led to debates about whether Pakistan is genuinely advocating for Islamic solidarity or using the OIC as a diplomatic tool to further its own interests.

Several member states have been cautious about Pakistan?s influence. For example, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia have occasionally taken positions that do not fully align with Pakistan?s stance, particularly on Kashmir.

Pakistan?s maneuvering within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) appears to be less about fostering genuine Islamic unity and more about advancing its own geopolitical agenda. By strategically shaping OIC resolutions, Islamabad seeks to align diplomatic narratives with its regional priorities, often at the expense of broader Muslim solidarity.

(greekcitytimes.com)